FREE MAHMOUD KHALIL

THIS PAST WEEKEND, ON MARCH 9TH, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE) AGENTS UNLAWFULLY KIDNAPPED PALESTINIAN ORGANIZER MAHMOUD KHALIL OUTSIDE HIS APARTMENT COMPLEX AS HE RETURNED HOME WITH HIS WIFE. ICE FIRST ATTEMPTED TO JUSTIFY THEIR ABDUCTION BY FALSELY CLAIMING HIS STUDENT VISA WAS INVALID-ONLY TO DISCOVER HE IS, IN FACT, A LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENT OF THIS COUNTRY. THAT DID NOT STOP THEM. THEY TOOK HIM ANYWAY, THREATENING HIS WIFE WITH ARREST IF SHE DID NOT COMPLY AND RETREAT INTO THEIR HOME. AT THIS MOMENT, MAHMOUD'S EXACT WHEREABOUTS REMAIN UNCONFIRMED. THE LAST KNOWN UPDATE LISTS HIM IN A DETENTION FACILITY IN LOUISIANA, BUT THE U.S. HAS ALREADY MADE CLEAR THAT LEGAL RIGHTS MEAN NOTHING WHEN IT COMES TO SILENCING RESISTANCE.

LET'S BE CLEAR: MAHMOUD IS NOT ACCUSED OF ANY CRIME. HIS ONLY OFFENSE IN THE EYES OF THIS REGIME IS HIS UNWAVERING ADVOCACY FOR PALESTINE AND HIS VOCAL OPPOSITION TO THE ONGOING U.S.-BACKED GENOCIDE CARRIED OUT BY THE ZIONIST ENTITY THAT CALLS ITSELF ISRAEL.

THIS MORNING, A WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL ADMITTED THE REAL REASON FOR HIS ABDUCTION-CALLING MAHMOUD A "THREAT TO THE FOREIGN POLICY AND NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES." THIS IS AN OUTRIGHT DECLARATION OF WAR ON PALESTINIAN ACTIVISM. IT IS A DIRECT ATTACK ON EVERY ORGANIZER, EVERY PROTESTER, EVERY VOICE RAISED AGAINST IMPERIALISM AND GENOCIDE.

WHAT HAPPENED TO MAHMOUD IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT—IT IS PART OF A COORDINATED EFFORT TO CRUSH RESISTANCE. IT'S THE SAME RUTHLESS STRATEGY USED WHEN BAKERSFIELD'S LOCAL GOVERNMENT, UNDER THE BIDEN REGIME, ORDERED THE GESTAPO-STYLE KIDNAPPING AND IMPRISONING OF ULFP ORGANIZERS FOR DARING TO EXPOSE THEIR CITY'S COMPLICITY IN ISRAEL'S WAR CRIMES. IT'S THE SAME REPRESSION UNLEASHED AGAINST STUDENTS, WORKERS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BUT LET THIS GOVERNMENT AND ITS ENFORCERS UNDERSTAND THIS: EVERY ATTEMPT TO SILENCE US ONLY STRENGTHENS OUR RESOLVE.

THIS CRIMINAL ADMINISTRATION UNDER TRUMP AND ITS LAW ENFORCEMENT THUGS CAN WEAPONIZE ICE, THE FBI, AND THEIR ENTIRE POLICE APPARATUS AGAINST US—IT WILL NOT STOP THIS MOVEMENT. IT'S PRECISELY WHY DO NOT HESITATE TO BURN THIS COUNTRY'S FLAG. IT'S WHY WE CONTINUE TO ASSERT THAT OUR STRUGGLES ARE INTERCONNECTED. WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED. WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED. WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN.

FREE MAHMOUD KHALIL.

FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS.

FREE PALESTINE.

GLORY TO THE RESISTANCE—HERE AND EVERYWHERE.

The United Liberation Front for Palestine
Statement — March 11 2025